A method to reduce the deposition of solid sulfur (S8(s)) in a natural gas producing well is described where hydrophobic surface modified silica nanoparticles are added into the tubing string, and the hydrophobic surface modified silica nanoparticles interact with the gaseous sulfur (S8(g)) present in the gas resulting in the reduction of the deposition of solid sulfur (S8(s)), The hydrophobic surface modified silica nanoparticles are selected from the group that includes silica, alumina and silica-aluminate. The hydrophobic surface modified silica nanoparticles may be added to the tubing string either dry or mixed first into a carrier fluid, which carrier fluid may be a liquid or a gas.